Russian missile strike in Poltava kills 41, wounds 180, says Zelenskyy

In a devastating attack, two Russian ballistic missiles struck a military training facility and an adjacent hospital in the central-eastern city of Poltava, Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of at least 41 individuals and injuring 180 others, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The assault marked one of the deadliest episodes of violence since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began over 900 days ago on February 24, 2022.

Poltava, located roughly 200 miles southeast of Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, serves as a critical junction on the main highway and rail line connecting Kyiv with Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, which lies near the Russian border.

Zelenskyy reported that among the damaged structures, a building at the Poltava Military Institute of Communications was partially destroyed, and many people were trapped under the rubble. Emergency services were able to rescue numerous individuals, with several saved directly from the wreckage, he shared in a video released on his Telegram channel.

Zelenskyy mentioned that all necessary emergency services were deployed to the site for the rescue operations, highlighting that 25 people were saved, including 11 who had been trapped under debris. The Defense Ministry characterized the missile landing as “barbaric,” noting that the missiles hit shortly after air raid alerts were given, indicating that many individuals were attempting to reach bomb shelters.

The president expressed his urgent call for military assistance from Ukraine’s Western allies, emphasizing the need for swift actions to deliver promised supplies. He criticized both the United States and European nations for being sluggish in fulfilling their commitments to provide support.

Additionally, Zelenskyy urged these countries to relax the restrictions regarding Ukraine’s operational freedom concerning strikes on Russian territory with provided weaponry. Some allies have reservations about potential escalations in the conflict if Ukrainian forces engage targets in Russia.

“Ukraine requires air defense systems and missiles immediately; they should not be left sitting in storage,” he stated in English on Telegram. He iterated the critical need for long-range strike capabilities to defend against Russian aggression, insisting that delays directly lead to more loss of life.

“Every day that passes without adequate support translates into increased casualties,” he lamented.